One of the key areas of The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is Science Advice for Policy Development, and the aim is to provide high quality, timely and independent scientific advice to support policy-making activities.

Taking an active role

There are already several established Science advice-structures in Norway, both formal and informal, to provide Science advice for policy development. Even so, the Academy has identified an open space, where we take an active role, based on our:

• independence
• members’ broad competence and their extensive networks, both nationally and internationally
• tradition from a knowledge based and acknowledged rostrum
• academy organizations memberships

Definition

The Academy’s definition of Science Advice for Policy Development:

"Science advice refers to the process and trust-based dialogue by which scientists and expert bodies provide policymakers with the best available scientific knowledge to inform decision-making. Its purpose is to ensure that political decisions are evidence-informed, reducing the influence of misinformation or disinformation. Scientists provide the map – clarifying options, risks, and uncertainties – while politicians navigate societal values and trade-offs. However, scientists and policymakers should, through dialogue and co-creation, engage iteratively to frame questions and discuss solutions. A trust-based dialogue must be based on academic freedom and institutional autonomy."

Science based decisions
The Academy is cooperating with other European academies within the area of Science Advice for Policy Development.
For the areas of Natural Sciences, this cooperation takes place within the EASAC network, while for the areas of Humanities and Social Sciences, the bulk of the cooperation takes place within ALLEA.

The Norwegian Technical Science Academy cooperates with other academies under the Euro-CASE umbrella.

These three European Academy Networks, in addition to Academia Europaea and FEAM, constitute the SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies) consortium.
SAPEA brings together the knowledge and expertise of fellows from over 100 Academies and Learned Societies in over 40 countries across Europe, spanning the disciplines of engineering, humanities, medicine, natural sciences and social sciences.
The consortium supports the EU Commission with high quality, timely and independent scientific advice in terms of reports for its policy-making activities.

Selected collection of reports
We prioritize selected international reports with special relevance for Norway, and take a closer look at their specific consequences for our country.

Based on these reports, Academy meetings and seminars are being arranged, followed up by science advice reports published on our website.